Good to know
Morocco is a destination full of contrasts, traditions and unique cultural nuances. Knowing a few key things in advance can make your journey smoother, more enjoyable and even more enriching. From local customs and practical tips to small details that make a big difference – here you’ll find everything worth knowing before and during your stay.
Practical travel information
From travelling to Morocco to returning home
- Visa requirement: No visa needed for European countries. All others should check with your local Moroccan consulate
- Travel documents: Passport
- Passport validity: At least six months from date of arrival (recommended)
The people of Morocco speak Moroccan Arabic (Darija) and a number of Berber languages. French is the country’s second language and is spoken by most Moroccans. In many areas, you will be able to get by in English. However, learning a few Arabic words makes a good impression on the friendly locals and helps you gain a deeper insight into their culture.
Yallah – Let’s go!
Good day – Nhark mbrouk
Goodbye – Bslama
Please – Affak
Thank you – Shukran
Yes – Iyyeh
No – La
Making calls from Morocco to Europe can be expensive, particularly from a mobile! Ask your mobile provider about roaming charges before leaving for your trip. To make cheaper calls, you can purchase phone cards from companies such as Maroc Telecom. These are available from all post offices (La Poste) and can be used in public phone booths. Morocco also has many téléboutiques with coin-operated telephones and internet access. You could also visit an internet café or simply use the Wi-Fi in your hotel.
Note: You will need to enable international roaming on your mobile and connect it to the Moroccan network.
Morocco offers an endless kaleidoscope of captivating images! Always remember that it’s respectful to ask before taking a snap of a Moroccan person. Do not take photos of people who are praying, or anyone in uniform. Official buildings (indicated by the Moroccan flag) and strategically important buildings such as military facilities must not be photographed. If in doubt, just ask!
Stamps and postcards can be purchased from any tobacconist.
Most shops are open every day from morning to evening. Opening times are only restricted during Ramadan and in the week after Eid al-Adha, the ‘Festival of Sacrifice’.
Cash machines are the best option, or you can visit a currency exchange to swap your euros for dirham.
The country’s official religion is Islam, and almost 99% of the population is Muslim. Local customs and practices should be respected in all religious places. Accordingly, options in restaurants and bars will be limited. Opening times at tourist attractions may also change.
Note: Only Muslims are permitted to enter mosques.
In keeping with the local culture and religion, overly revealing clothes should be avoided when you’re sightseeing or strolling around town.
In keeping with the local religion, it is recommended that you do not consume alcohol in public. However, many hotels and restaurants do serve alcoholic drinks.
Do not drink water from the tap while visiting Morocco. You will be able to purchase mineral water wherever you go.
Global health insurance is essential for any trip abroad and can save you from high costs and serious problems. We therefore recommend that you take out an appropriate insurance policy before your trip. Travelling Morocco without insurance isn’t worth the risk. It doesn’t have to be expensive and can be completed online!
You don’t have to have any special vaccinations for Morocco, but we recommend vaccinating against Hepatitis A and B, polio, diphtheria and tetanus. Depending on the type of holiday, it may also be worth getting a rabies jab. Make sure to consult your doctor or pharmacist in good time.
Morocco is a safe country with a high police presence – including on the roads, where they perform frequent traffic checks.
A labyrinth of alleyways, colours and scents
#1 insider tip for Morocco. Adored by locals and tourists alike, medinas – Morocco’s traditional, historic old towns – are the reason many people choose to visit the country. The royal city of Fez boasts northern Africa’s largest medina. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. Those in Marrakesh, Meknes, Essaouira and Tétouan are also long-standing World Heritage Sites. Why? Because of their beauty and their historical importance (medinas are often surrounded by imposing city walls designed to protect against invasion).
They are also beloved for the fine craftsmanship displayed in the alleys and shops. The medina is a living, breathing blend of colours, sounds and people. And the next souk, the centre of social life and Moroccan culture, is never far away.
Morocco’s magical, mystical marketplace
A market, a commercial district, and the hub of Middle Eastern and Arab cities: the souk is the home of aromatic spices, colourful fabrics, traditional Moroccan handicrafts and touristy souvenirs. Whether in the alleys of UNESCO-protected medinas or on the main square in Marrakesh, souks are usually divided into different areas and prove as fascinating to Moroccans as they do to tourists.
One section is dedicated to food, another to clothes, while others are traditionally the terrain of jewellers and other businesses. Visit the souk to gaze in amazement and haggle for a bargain.
A Moroccan Hideaway
In Arabic, riad simply means ‘garden with trees’. But a riad is much more than that: a traditional Moroccan town house or palace with a courtyard or interior garden featuring trees, exotic plants, fountains and refreshing pools of water. A place of unique tranquillity. An oasis. A sanctuary.
And often the epitome of luxury accommodation in Morocco – many of these exclusive, exquisitely furnished houses have been converted into hotels. A true insider tip!
Experience Morocco’s bathing culture for yourself
A trip to Morocco wouldn’t be the same without visiting a hammam! Often decorated in vibrant zellige tiles, these public bathhouses are not just a place to retreat, relax and feel good – they have been an integral part of the Moroccan lifestyle for centuries, during which time the hammam rituals have barely changed. Visitors remove their clothes (simple swimwear is permitted) and cover their bodies with towels before being thoroughly pampered by the staff.
Moroccan cuisine for fans of meat and fish
Who makes the best tagine? What is its secret? What are the latest culinary trends for Morocco’s national dish? There are many myths surrounding tagine. In essence, it is a hearty dish of meat or fish and vegetables in which all ingredients are cooked together in a round earthenware pot over a charcoal fire.
The tagine pot is characterised by its domed (Berber) or pointed (Arab) lid. Make sure to try Moroccan cuisine’s most irresistible dish!
Sociability and simplicity are as much a part of tagine as saffron, coriander, caraway and cumin.
Mud castle on the edge of the desert
Centuries old castles and fortresses built from mud, straw and fine gravel in shades of red and brown: kasbahs perch above fertile river oases, between green palm groves and before shimmering gravel deserts and rock formations that reach up to the sky. Above or within the medinas, Morocco’s historic centres, kasbahs were once where governors and kings resided to keep an eye on the coast and maintain an overview of the restless hinterland. Today, these impressive mud castles on the edge of the Moroccan desert seem to have come from another world.
Our tours
Experience a private round trip through kasbahs, oases and the fascinating vastness of the Sahara.
Adults Only beach holiday in Agadir & Taghazout: unforgettable experiences on the Atlantic.
A city trip that makes the diversity of a Morocco holiday tangible. From Agadir over to Essaouira to Marrakesh.
